River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1887-06-02
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular Correspondent
Washington, May 9th, 1885,

After many years Washington is
once more in the hands of the soldiers.
BavOntts. brass buttons, bright he'll
NETS and brilliant colors CLEAN in the
May sunshine. The streets are full
of troops and of nOn-military visitors,
and from early morning until night
fall MAJ tial music fills the air-play
ing bands, bugles. flies and drum-b beats.
The city has not been captured by the
British for second time, nor are
North and South struggling for its
possession. Volunteer soldiers from
all parts of the Union have accom-
plished this second capture Of the city,
and find their reward in rich prizes.
welcoming smiles and admiring glanc-
es, from all who love lie militaire."
The Capitol is a willing captive on
this OCCASION. and the impressive
gathering OF representative citizen
soldiers gives Uncle sam an excellent
opportunity 30 feel his muscle, exam
inc his sword and armOr, and to test
his strength in other ways. 1t gives
the amateur warriors, too. who .,i-
encamped around the Washington
Monument, better chance TO know
something of practical military SER
vice than some of them had ever had
before. Strict military discipline is
in force at the camp and the soldiers
are required To do guard duty at night
in rainy or in fair weather as we'll as
10 obey all other rules and regulations
and orders issued by the commandant
of the camp.
The various organizations which are
taking part in the competitive drills
during the week drew lots for the
order in which they would compete.
The numbers were placed in a box.
representative of each company select
ing a number. Only about one half
companies in camp are competing fer
the prizes. Some of them fell short
of the number of men required for
competition. while the others who
witnessed the specimen drilling of
some of the crack regiments decided
1t would be useless to compete with
them.
The companies do not know what
maneuvers Will be required of them
until they enter the drill ground for
competition. The method adopted by
the management is as follows: When
a company is called for drill printed
programme of the movements to be
executed is handed to the captain.
who is allowed TO study it for a time
and familiariZe himself with its re-
quirements. When his company has
finished drilling the paper is handed
back and the Captain is bound by oath
not to reveal its contents. Every
company executes the same eyOlutions,
aud every company occupies thirty
minutes in its exercises.
The Judges of the drill are all Off
GERS of the regular army and were ap-
pointed by General Sheridan au the
request of the Drill Committee. They
were chosen by Gen. Sheridan on ac-
count of their special fitness for that
service, each of them having spent
much time at the leading military
institutions where the manual of arms
is always the first thing thought of.
The event of Wednesday was the re-
view of the troops by the President
and brilliant dress parade through
the streets of the city. The Weather
Bureau had furnished perfect day
for the spectacle, the crowds of people
along the line of march seemed almost
as great as. on Inauguration Days. the
marching of the soldiers was good, |
their uniforms were gorgeous, and
there was nothing but the .'colOr line"
trouble to mar the success of the day.
The President, with the Governors
of several states and their stats and
other prominent people occupied a flag
Dedecked stand on Pennsylvania ayen-
ne in front of the White House. After
the ambulance of the Red Cross Society.
which has charge of the Drill hospital.
and which brought up the rear of the
parade, had passed the reviewing stand
the crowd thought the procession was
over. as no other organizations were in
sight, and closed in upon the ambulance
after the fashion of crowds at street
parades.
A few minutes later the Vicksburg
SOuthrons and the Memphis ZOuaves
hove in sight and passed the stand like
separate contingent. They marched
down the avenue a short distance and
then back 20 Wizards Hotel. When
asked why they had dropped out of the
parade. one of the captains replied
that it vas all on account of the COM
pdny OF ringers" that marched in
front of them. Three colOred compa-
MES, two of which We're three battal-
ions ahead of the position assigned the
SOuthrOns, and seven battalions ahead
of the place where the Memphis Zou-
ayes should have been. were the cause
of the secession from the line. A lapse
of about ten minutes and a half mile
behind the tail end OF the procession
was, in the esteem of these two COM
panles. the way to mark the color line.
They have yet to learn that no c0ntig-
uity can make those equal who are un-
equal--either physically, intellectually,
morally or socially.